Chris Dearing: A New Chapter at KWL

“Everyone is focused on what is best for the business.”

KWL is thrilled to welcome Chris Dearing as one of our new Operations Managers. With an impressive 32-year career at Hull City Council, Chris brings a wealth of experience and a fresh perspective to our team, particularly in the Voids and Responsive Maintenance departments.

From Council Corridors to KWL

Chris’s journey with the Council began at Ferens Art Gallery and with training and support led his career through various roles in Environmental Health and Housing at Hull City Council where he has honed is project management skills. His career there was marked by significant achievements and diverse experiences:

  • Oversaw land assembly for new mixed tenure housing regeneration schemes
  • Gained expertise in areas ranging from drainage , pest control, housing and health and safety
  • Participated in the UK’s first council team overseeing supported accommodation.

One of Chris’s career highlights was his involvement in a pilot project working with central government and four other local authorities. This initiative informed  the implementation of new legislation enforcing standards for supported accommodation providers, even resulting in a memorable trip to Parliament.

A Seamless Transition to KWL

Chris joined KWL in November and was immediately impressed by the company’s operations. “What’s best for the business is the whole team focus here at KWL,” he notes. Having worked closely with KWL for the past fifteen years through his role in housing regeneration at Hull City Council, Chris already held the company in high regard, recognising its reliability and deep care for its people and projects.

Impressed by KWL’s Approach

Chris has been particularly struck by KWL’s agile nature and he appreciates the company’s commitment to local youth. “It’s refreshing to see that people have a certain level of autonomy when it comes to recruiting and making decisions. I am also passionate about supporting and seeing local young people being given excellent opportunities through the apprentice programme.”

Problem-Solving Skills in Action

With his background in environmental health, Chris brings valuable problem-solving skills to his new role. “As with anything it’s all about relationship building but the teams are really positive and work well together. With a background in environmental health and project management, I was always dealing with things that were a little bit different and required problem solving skills which are useful in my new role, particularly in the responsive maintenance team.”

Outside of work, Chris remains active in his community and pursues various interests. He serves as treasurer for the Hull Dockers rugby team and holds a season pass for Hull KR. A music enthusiast, Chris enjoys festivals like Glastonbury and has a keen interest in food, and likes to explore new culinary experiences.

During lockdown he started running  and more recently organises a weekly running club with sessions run by Hull KR’s Foundation, combining his love for fitness and community engagement. Chris finds that running provides valuable thinking time, often leading to problem-solving breakthroughs. “Running is my thinking time, I often have that penny-drop moment when a problem is solved. I am quite competitive with myself and keep pushing on to smash my own goals.”

Looking Ahead

Chris sees his role at KWL as the ideal next stage in his career. “Starting out in environmental health was all about solving problems and making the area better. Being here at KWL is the ideal next stage of my career where I can utilise  this skill alongside project management experience gained over the last fifteen years working in Housing..”

As Chris settles into his new role, his diverse experience, problem-solving skills, and commitment to community improvement are sure to contribute significantly to KWL’s continued success. The weeks are flying by, and Chris finds the business both busy and exciting. Welcome aboard, Chris!